Pubdate: Fri, 10 Jan 2003
Source: Big Sandy News, The (KY)
Copyright: 2003 The Big Sandy News
Contact:  http://www.bigsandynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1975
Author: Chris McDavid, Johnson County Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

PAINTSVILLE COPS TO BE DRUG TESTED

PAINTSVILLE - Mayor Doug Pugh signed an executive order Thursday, requiring 
random drug testing for all city police officers. Pugh and interim police 
chief Larry VanHoose, who replaced former chief Doug Wallen and assistant 
chief Crystal McKenzie on the new mayor's first day in office, said they 
would each be the first to undergo a drug test as an example for the police 
officers. VanHoose praised the mayor's action Thursday, saying the random 
drug testing will "move the integrity of this department forward." "I don't 
want any doubt on this department," the chief said, adding that drug 
testing of the city police officers is "something that should have been 
done a long time ago." The mayor's executive order says that "all members 
of the Paintsville Police Department" are required to take an initial drug 
test upon the signing of the order. The tests will be conducted by the 
Methadone Clinic in Paintsville, and officers will begin testing at the 
facility within the next few days. Any officer who refuses to take a drug 
test will have his or her employment with the city terminated, the order 
says. "I think the random drug testing will strengthen the police 
department," Pugh said Thursday afternoon, "and re-enforce the department's 
efforts to eradicate drugs in our community." On the first day of Pugh's 
administration and of the new year, the mayor shook up the Paintsville 
Police Department by demoting Wallen and McKenzie to the status of police 
officers. Officers promoted during Wallen's stint as chief were also 
reclassified as patrolmen - eliminating Wallen's ranking system.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom